Miracle 8/21 Sailing...A Few Questions

[MACE]

Hi folks, got a few Qs re: our (just me and my 8 year old daughter) 8/21 sailing on the Miracle, just did a late booking:

 

With a guaranteed Cat 8A assignment, we'll only know about any potential upgrades and final cabin assignnment at check-in when ariving at the pier?

(I booked via CCL)

 

Soda cards: how much for my 8 year old and can I sign up for one pre check-in, or only during check-in, or only once onboard the ship?

 

I believe the dinning room is two levels. If we can get a rear window seat, which level (Promenade or Atlantic) offers better views of the water. Or is this a moot point as during breakfast and lunch, you can sit where you choose and at dinner, the curtains may be closed?

 

Cat 8A balconies are all on deck 4 only, with deck 5 ('Upper') having the first of the 'extended' balcony categories?

 

Uncrowded deck space: Looks like deck 9 foward has access to the outside, right? Any other areas not too crowded? Is there access all the way forward outside of the Video Arcade on deck 4 or from the Childrens Playroom on deck 5?

 

If possible, what are the actual disembarkation times in Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Freeport, and there are no tenders needed in the Bahamas, right?

 

Canaveral: can we buy our own 'excursion' off the pier w/RT transportation and entry tickets into the Magic Kingdom?

 

Nassau: Does Atlantis still charge for a 'day' visit, if so how much?

 

Freeport: recommendations for a good beach experience?

 

Finally, self assist disembarkation at NYC, starts at 10am and can we wait in your cabin?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

-MACE-

[serene56]

Soda cards can be bought when you get onbaord. Cant buy them before-sorry. Since your daughter is under 12 she can get free soda in the dining room only. Have you thought about having her drink the ice tea/lemonade until dinner? take your own 12 pack onboard?

 

Your reservation- go to the carnival web page and register- go to the top right corner and click on your reservation. put all the information there and it wil allow you to check on your booking.

 

The dining room you cant sit anywhere you want for dinner. Your seat is pciked for you and will be located on your sign and sail card when you first board. For breakfast and lunch-if you chose to go to the dining room you will be given the seats that are open. You may be sitting with another family. There is also the Lido deck where you can go eat buffet stlye- you serve yourself. You dont have to eat in the dining room for all your meals. There is also room service. Make sure your daughter gets to order brownies and choc milk one night before bed.

 

As crowded as a ship is you wont feel crowded. Even on the VOyager we never felt that many people were onboard with me.

[serene56]

Atlantis dont have a day rate- YOu will have to buy the hotel room at the COmfort Suites to take advantage of all that atlantis has to offer.

 

Self disembarking= you will have to pack lightly- No one will be there to help you with your luggage. With a young child are you able to do that? Carnival allows you to stay in your cabin- they will tell you what time to be out. How do you know that self assit will be at 10am? its usually done as soon as the ship is cleared.

 

Port Canaveral excursion: Because it is an all day excursion you may want to stay with the ships excursion- if something happens that the excursion is running late the ship will wait-- not so on private vendors. I'd be afraid with traffic etc...it is at least an hour ride.

[JerseyJim2]

Hi Mace, welcome aboard the Miracle 8/21 "Cruise for the Stars"!

 

The fountain/soda cards are $28 for kids under 18. Most people recommend them if your child is a soda drinker. If not, there is iced tea and fruit punches available on the Lido deck for free.

 

We arrive at Port Canaveral at 6AM. I don't believe there are booking facilities on the dock, you should make arrangements ahead of time. Avis and Hertz have car rental pickup.

 

The outside spaces forward seem to be on the Lido and up. Here is a high res photo of Miracle to see what these spaces really look like:

 

http://www.keyflux.com/images/Miracle_HiResa.jpg

 

Jim

[LMGPR]

Hi Mace,

 

Just got back from the 7/31 sailing of the Miracle.

 

Regarding Port Canaveral - I rented a car from Budget - they have transportation to and from the ship and their location is closest to the pier. When we got off the ship, we walked out into the parking lot and the van was there to pick us up. They also brought us back. When I made my reservation with Budget, I let them know I was coming on the ship. We did not do the parks - but did some shopping instead in Orlando.

 

I would agree with the poster above. Inorder to get the most of out of your day at the parks I would go with the ships excursion - the traffic was getting heavy later in the afternoon and you would have to leave earlier to be able to drop off the car -

the latest van back from budget was 5:45.

 

For arrival times - here they are (they are always subject to change)

 

Port Canaveral:

 

Arrive into port - 6:00 am

Return no later than - 7:30 pm

Ships sails - 8:00 pm

 

 

Nassau:

 

Arrives - 11:30 am

Return back - 9:30 pm

Sails - 10:00 pm

 

Freeport:

 

Arrives - 7:00 am

Return no later than - 12:30 pm

Sails - 1:00 pm

 

We did not do the self assist - but we were off the ship by 10:00 am anyway. They ask that you wait on level 3 or 9 until your color is called. They really want you out of your room so they can start to clean.

 

Hope this helps.

 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

 

Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we enjoyed ours.

 

Laura

[MACE]

Hey guys, thanks for the great feedback:

 

Serene56 - I did register at CCL's web page, thanks. Since I just got my docs (booked late), I used the 'tricks' detailed here to check for a cabin assignment on our Guaranteed CAT 8A booking...no cabin assignment yet. Guess we'll find out at the pier.

 

Thanks for the info re: Atlantis, I think we'll head over there via the ferry ride get some lunch and wander about the area as much as we can.

 

Re: Port Canaveral, good advice from all, we'll decide ship excursion -vs- car rental (and I'll have to do that soon)...I'll check CCL's site for their price, I know it's can be pricey, probably between $125-150 per person.

 

JerseyJim2 - Cruise for Stars...cool, is this some theme cruise or something we don't know about...LOL!

 

Thanks for the pricing on the soda card, my daughter really likes Shirley Temples (and a soda or two at times) and I believe we can get the Shirley Temples with the soda card.

 

Great picture of the ship, can't wait to show my daughter...does indeed show the forward open deck space...thanks. Having the water slide in the back is something new for CCL? For some reason I thought it was more forward.

 

LMGPR - how was your 7/31 sailing? Bet ya still recall all the cool great times.

 

Thanks for the info re: the car rental and port arrival times.

 

We may still do self assist but agree we'll have to pack light.

 

Oh, BTW, in Freeport, has anyone gone on CCL's Pirates of the Bahamas Beach Party? Sounds fun, maybe not too expensive? A CCL exclusive right, you can't buy this off the pier?

 

 

Again all, thanks for the feedback!

 

-MACE-

[JerseyJim2]

LOL, "Cruise for the Stars" is something I made up for all the Cruise Critics sailing Miracle on 8/21. So far we have 19 Cruise Critic and Cruise Addict users on this sailing!

 

Jim

[27123]

I've done the pirates beach party in Freeport it is a blast and they light up a bon fire at night. it you are taken to an old ship that has been turned into a bar with a small dance floor and you have dinner and a live band,we had fun.

Also as far as Freeport the beach at Our Lucaya is the best one. all the water sports are there, the new casino is there. and shopping is across the street where unexco is too